Page:Signswondersgodw0000wood.djvu/204

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

which, together with all other gospel blessings through Christ, is offered to both Jew and Gentile. Gal. 3.27-29.

Q. What does prophecy say about divine healing?

A. There is more said about it in prophecy than we have time at present to read, but I will just quote a few verses, and the rest can be read at your leisure. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isa. 35.5-6. This very prophecy is referred to by Jesus himself in Matt. 11.5-6, where it was daily being fulfilled, “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Another very plain prophecy is found in Isa. 53.4—“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” The fulfillment of this wonderful voice of inspiration is found in Matt. 8.17—“Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness.”’ It is admitted by all reliable translators and the most eminent Hebrew scholars, such as Barnes, Magee, Young and Leeser, that Isa. 53.4 in its literal rendering corresponds exactly with Matt. 8.17. We see, therefore, that the latter is a direct reference to the former. Then the beautiful prophecy of salvation and healing is found in the following verse, viz.: Isaiah 53.5—“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” These prophecies all point to the Redemption work of Jesus, which finds its center in the Cross. The apostle Peter refers to this verse just quoted in the following language: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I. Pet. 2.24. The following references will enable you to see that more is said in prophecy about healing: Isaiah 42.7; Isaiah 61.1. Fulfilled in Luke 4.18-21. “Prophecy in Mal. 4.2. Fulfilled in Matt. 4.16; Luke 1.78-79. These are all fulfilled in redemption.

Q. Do you believe that the Bible teaches divine healing as a redemption blessing?

A. Yes. Do you not see how plain this is made in the prophecies just quoted and in their fulfillment? Jesus worked in every respect, in his life, ministry, death and resurrection, just according to the redemption plan. His words and deeds are the